Conversations for Research Rockstars

Many market research, UX, and CX teams now use AI for brainstorming, writing, and various research tasks. But it's not always easy, especially when using AI to help researchers craft surveys and discussion guides. The recurring issue isn't effort—it's uneven quality from ad hoc prompting. In "Prompt Engineering for Researchers," host Kathryn Korostoff demonstrates two structured approaches that keep rigor intact while reducing rework. First, Prompt Chaining: design the deliverable step by step—structure before content—using short review loops to tune timing, probes, and flow. Second, Reflexion (with an "X"): asking the AI to critique its own draft for bias, confusion, or sequencing and to document changes. Example: "Review this guide and revise any questions that may be leading, biased, or confusing. Then list the changes you made and why you made them." And it will! Check out this episode for examples of using effective AI prompting for qualitative and quantitative researchers. #MarketResearch #QualitativeResearch #UXResearch #CXResearch #SurveyDesign #AIforResearch Conversations for Research Rockstars is produced by Research Rockstar Training & Staffing. Our 25+ Market Research eLearning classes are offered on demand and include options to earn Insights Association Certificates. Our Rent-a-Researcher staffing service places qualified, fully vetted market research experts, covering temporary needs due to project and resource fluctuations. We believe it: Inside every market researcher is a Research Rockstar! Hope you enjoy this episode of Conversations for Research Rockstars. Research Rockstar | Facebook | LinkedIn | 877-Rocks10 ext 703 for Support, 701 for Sales [email protected]

As we plan for 2026, many CX, UX, and Market Research teams are focused on anticipating project volume, evolving method mixes, AI-enabled workflows, and resource allocation. But regulatory policy deserves attention too—with changes coming that could directly shape how we run qualitative and quantitative projects. In this episode of Conversations for Research Rockstars, Kathryn Korostoff interviewed Howard Fienberg, Senior VP Advocacy at the Insights Association, about two regulatory shifts that could impact researchers. Kathryn and Howard also discuss how these regulations could create meaningful cost savings and workflow improvements for researchers in both qual and quant settings. Conversations for Research Rockstars is produced by Research Rockstar Training & Staffing. Our 25+ Market Research eLearning classes are offered on demand and include options to earn Insights Association Certificates. Our Rent-a-Researcher staffing service places qualified, fully vetted market research experts, covering temporary needs due to project and resource fluctuations. We believe it: Inside every market researcher is a Research Rockstar! Hope you enjoy this episode of Conversations for Research Rockstars. http://www.researchrockstar.com/ Facebook | LinkedIn | 877-Rocks10 ext 703 for Support, 701 for Sales [email protected]

Struggling with overloaded discussion guides in qualitative research? In this episode of Conversations for Research Rockstars, Kathryn Korostoff shares practical ways to handle clients, colleagues, and stakeholders who want to pack too much into a focus group or IDI guide. Learn how to: Keep discussion guides aligned with project objectives Push back—professionally—when feedback risks data quality Use strategies like pre-surveys, split guides, and online exercises to balance content Whether you're running focus groups or in-depth interviews, these tips will help protect data quality and keep your research process rock solid. Have you ever seen a Franken-guide? (Skip to 2:22) For adding interactivity to online focus groups and webcam IDIs, we can either use qualitative research platforms with built-in interactive features, or use Zoom (and similar video platforms) with integrated apps that add interactivity. Qualitative research platforms with built-in interactivity features: Recollective – Supports collage, drag-and-drop image tasks, ranking/sorting, polls. 👉 https://www.recollective.com/ Aha! Insights – Supports projective tools, word games, drawing/mark-up, polls. 👉 https://www.ahaonlineresearch.com/ Discuss.io – Supports polls, drawing/mark-up, pre-work, ranking/sorting. 👉 https://www.discuss.io/platform/ If you are doing online focus groups or IDIs using Zoom, check out these tools: Zoom Polling & Quizzes (built-in) – Run quick polls or quizzes. 👉 https://support.zoom.com/hc/en/article?id=zm_kb&sysparm_article=KB0066150 Zoom Whiteboard – For image annotation. 👉 https://developers.zoom.us/docs/whiteboard/ Mural – A visual whiteboard for collages, clustering, sticky notes, and interactive brainstorming during sessions. 👉 https://www.mural.co/ Slido (Zoom App) – Add polls and word clouds inside Zoom. 👉 https://www.slido.com/zoom-polling Poll Everywhere (Zoom App) – Collect poll and open-ended responses. 👉 https://www.polleverywhere.com/app/zoom Vevox (Zoom Integration) – Anonymous polling, word clouds, polls integrated into Zoom. 👉 https://www.vevox.com/zoom-integration Note: Some of these tools are easier to prepare in advance, so during the session you just "launch." That helps avoid tech fumbling mid-discussion. #MarketResearch #QualitativeResearch #CXResearch #UXResearch #MRX Conversations for Research Rockstars is produced by Research Rockstar Training & Staffing. Our 25+ Market Research eLearning classes are offered on demand and include options to earn Insights Association Certificates. Our Rent-a-Researcher staffing service places qualified, fully vetted market research experts, covering temporary needs due to project and resource fluctuations. We believe it: Inside every market researcher is a Research Rockstar! Hope you enjoy this episode of Conversations for Research Rockstars. http://www.researchrockstar.com/ Facebook | LinkedIn | 877-Rocks10 ext 703 for Support, 701 for Sales [email protected]

In this Conversations for Research Rockstars episode, host Kathryn Korostoff tackles one of the trickiest challenges in survey design—choosing the best possible answer options for the questions we've so carefully crafted. Using clear, real-world examples, she offers practical guidance on: When to use unipolar vs. bipolar scales How to choose between odd- and even-point scales—and explain your choice to stakeholders When to consider less common options like rank order or constant sum Whether we're designing a questionnaire for market research, CX research, or UX research, this episode delivers best practices that experienced survey researchers rely on to ensure every question is supported by the optimal answer options. #MarketResearch #QuantitativeResearch #CustomerInsights #ConsumerBehavior Conversations for Research Rockstars is produced by Research Rockstar Training & Staffing. Our 25+ Market Research eLearning classes are offered on demand and include options to earn Insights Association Certificates. Our Rent-a-Researcher staffing service places qualified, fully vetted market research experts, covering temporary needs due to project and resource fluctuations. We believe it: Inside every market researcher is a Research Rockstar! http://www.researchrockstar.com/ Facebook LinkedIn 877-Rocks10 ext 703 for Support, 701 for Sales [email protected]

What happens when clients feel dissatisfied after the very first in-depth interview? Often, it's not about objectives or discussion guides—it's about mismatched expectations on style. In this conversation, Kathryn Korostoff unpacks the difference between highly structured and semi-structured IDIs and why alignment upfront is essential for success. Learn more about Research Rockstar's training and staffing resources for research professionals here: https://rarquote.paperform.co/ Conversations for Research Rockstars is produced by Research Rockstar Training & Staffing. Our 25+ Market Research eLearning classes are offered on demand and include options to earn Insights Association Certificates. Our Rent-a-Researcher staffing service places qualified, fully vetted market research experts, covering temporary needs due to project and resource fluctuations. **We believe it: Inside every market researcher, is a Research Rockstar!** Hope you enjoy this episode of Conversations for Research Rockstars. http://www.researchrockstar.com/ Facebook LinkedIn 877-Rocks10 ext 703 for Support, 701 for Sales [email protected]